Article holder



Nov. 15, 1949 G. BENGELSDORF 2,488,262

ART I CLE HOLDER File'd Sept. 22, 1947 INVENTOR. GEORGE 551m: LSDORF' 1atented Nov. 15 1949 George Benge ls'd'orf; Brooklyn,,l\l. Y., a ssignorto The Bfoolifldrt 'Coiiipany, New York, N. Y.,a.

Application September 22, 1947, Serial Nb. 765,533 2" (c1. 211:1)

This invention relatesto an improved holder for napkins, menus and thelike, and more particularly to a holder made from bendable material suchas cardboard, fibreboard or similar material.

It is an object of the invention to provide a napkin holder which may beeasily set up to operative conditionfrom a simple, flat, integral blankof simple construction without the use of adheslves.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a napkin holderwhich will hold a largeguantity of napkins and which will hav'gdodstability when pla'c'ed ena table-brother supporting surface.

A further object of the invention is theprovision of a napkin holderhaving'an intermediate base panel and a pair of holding panels integralwith the base panel, the holding panels being placed under tension inthe operative, setup condition of the holder in order to serve withequal efficiency in retaining either large or small quantities ofnapkins.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of a napkinholder of the character indicated which is designed and constructed insuch a manner as to eliminate the possibility of accidental collapsewhile the holder is in use.

The foregoing objects as well as additional objects and advantages ofthe invention Will be readily apparent in the course of the followingdetailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingwhich illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a blank from which the napkin holder may beset-up to operative condition.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the partially set-up napkinholder.

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the holder in completely set-up,operative condition for retaining a quantity of napkins.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the set-up holder.

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the set-up napkin holder the frontpanel being partly broken away to illustrate the manner of assemblingthe holder to operative condition.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view of a portion of Fig. 5.

The napkin holder may be formed from a blank I!) of any suitablebendable material such as fibreboard, cardboard or the like. Blank l0comprises an intermediate, preferably rectangular base panel H and apair of tensioning or holding an .lt t ia lw n h s? Pan l; A. Pa oiparallel transverse fold lines It define the longiiadinlal ed s. I2 asPane l an th Pa er edge of tensioning panels 12 in the set;up conditionof the holder. 'lensioning; panels l? are provided adjacent base' panell l with opposed Pairs Q blique qnn at r l gs 4. d ned by Par l l i end. Nb and. lddine H Ssee i C nne t i ea iar trthrprq ided withinterlocking tabs Md andside 14a. of each fiaalli i o ter t a sid iboi-n Base panel l l is-provided at each end with an nd flap indeb e tQ.f9 .d:a 9ut. Q1d line 15a which is continuous with fold lines Hoof connecting flaps 14, said fold lines [5a, defin netne side edges ofthebasepanel ll in the set-upIcon"-v dition of the holder. 'E afeh endflap l5 comprises an inner trapezoidal portion I512, anintermediaterectangular portion I50. a terminal portion E}- and apair-parallel fold lines lfi and l6a.

A pair of lockin vW198 I! is formed centrally adjacent each end of basepanel H by. means of arcuate cut-lines [la and fold lines ill) tocomplete the blank. Locking tabs l1. serve to secure the terminalportions iEd of each end flap [5 in setting up the blank to operativecondition as will be more fully described hereinbelow.

In forming the holder from blank l0, each tensioning panel I2 is firstfolded upwardly about intermediate base panel I I along. a respectivefold line l3. Each pair of oblique connecting flaps M at opposite endsof blank I0, is then interconnected by means of interlocking tabs Md,thereof as clearly shown in Fig.2 to place the free ends of panels i2under tension.

Each end flap I5 is then folded first upwardly about fold line Ida andexteriorly' against interlocked connecting flaps l4 and then downwardlyabout fold line l6 and interiorly against interlocked connecting flaps I4 so that trapezoidal portion b becomes the external end wall of theholder and rectangular portion I50 becomes the internal end wall of theholder, as clearly shown in Figs. 5 and 6, portions [5b and both beingdisposed against interlocked connecting flaps l4.

As the final step insetting up the holder, the terminal portion -l5d ofeach end flap I5 is in-' serted beneath a respective locking tab I! ofbase panel ll, whereupon the holder is firmly secured in operativecondition.

An important feature of the invention resides in the tensioning of theupper free ends of panels I 2 in the set-up operative condition of theholder by means of the oblique interlocked connecting flaps l4 wherebyany desired number of napkins gasses 3 may be retained between saidholding panels l2. Thus as napkins are successively withdrawn from thefilled holder (see Fig. 3) there is a tendency for the holding panels l2to move inwardly toward each other and to retain the remaining napkinstherebetween until finally, when all of a given batch of napkins havebeen withdrawn for use, the inner surfaces of panels [2 will be incontact as illustrated in Fig. 4; The holder may then be reloaded byseparating the panels [2 and inserting a fresh supply of napkins.

Suitable advertising matter and any desired workings or indicia may beprinted on the outer 4 of connecting flaps, the free end of each endflap being inserted beneath a respective locking tab of said base panel.

2. A holder of the character described having a body of foldable,bendable material, said body comprising a base panel, a pair of holdingpanels integral with said base panel and extending upwardly therefrom atopposite sides of the base panel, opposed pairs of oblique connectingflaps integral with said holding panels on each side "thereof andadjacent said base panel, each pair surfaces of the tensioning sidepanels l2 for the attention of the consumer when napkins are withdrawn.The holder may be used for menus and the like as well as napkins.

Since certain modifications may be in made in the holder of theinvention without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended thatall matter contained in the foregoing description and shown in theaccompanying drawing be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

What is claimed is:

A holder for napkins, menus and the like having a body of foldable,bendable material, said body comprising a base panel, a pair of holdingpanels integral with said base panel and extending upwardly therefrom atopposite sides of the base panel, opposed pairs of oblique connectingflaps integral with said holding panels on each side thereof andadjacent said base panel, each pair of said connecting flaps havinginterlocking tabs, respective pairsof said connecting flaps beinginterlocked to place the free upper ends of said holding panels undertension, said base panel having an integral end flap at each endthereof, said base panel having locking tabs adjacent each end thereof,each of said end fiaps 'being folded over a respective interlocked pairof said end flaps being folded over a respective interlocked pair ofconnecting fiaps, said trapezoidal portion being disposed outwardly andsaid rectangular portion being disposed inwardly of said pair ofconnecting flaps, said terminal portion being inserted within arespective locking tab of said base panel.

, GEORGE BENGELSDORF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 690,496 Webb Jan. '7, 1902690,497 Webb Jan. 7, 1902 1,866,317 Miner July 5, 1932 2,105,057 SharpeJan. 11, 1938 2,124,335 Klein July 19, 1938

